Chapter 305 - 290: The Importance of Self-Deception

Chapter 305: Chapter 290: The Importance of Self-Deception

"Huh? A guide?"

Lloyd paused, thought for a moment, and pressed,

"Is that the person who recommended me for admission? I think he was busy and couldn’t make it..."

"Well... a recommender isn’t necessarily a guide, is it? I wouldn’t know. I was admitted the normal way, unlike a rare recommended student like you.

But normally, guides are graduated seniors or just regular staff. They probably wouldn’t ask an honorary professor to do something like this, would they?"

The kind researcher explained the proper admission process to Lloyd.

Generally, after new students receive their Admission Notice—that exquisite invitation letter—they’ll encounter a few "special events."

For example, a strange Divination result, odd dreams, voices you can’t explain, or faint, flickering text appearing before your eyes.

After experiencing these events, you meet your guide. The guide then gives you a simple test to generate an "admission evaluation form," issues you the standard Arm Badge all students have, and tells you the special frequency to open the "school gate." That’s how you’re supposed to enroll smoothly.

No one knew why the admission process was so complicated. Maybe it was to create a sense of ritual? Or perhaps to conduct a sort of "placement test" and let new students get a taste of things to come?

Lloyd thought back on his own admission process. ’There wasn’t really a problem with it, was there?’

’I figured from the start that the lack of a special frequency on the notice was some kind of placement test. And I did use Divination to try and find a way in.’

’Was the Divination just a little off? Did I miss the "special events"?’

’Uh... does a head-on confrontation with an Evil God’s Offspring count as a "special event"?’

’Anyway, it was like finding out I couldn’t get into the university, so I found a different path. I went through a ton of trouble to scale the high wall and jump in.’

’Only after getting in was I told I could have just used the main gate...’

’And because I climbed the wall, I was mistaken for a trespasser...’

After summarizing the situation in his head, Lloyd didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He spread his hands helplessly and said,

"Alright, I get it. But I never ran into any of those ’special events’ you’re talking about. So I had to figure it out on my own..."

"Maybe your guide was just busy and couldn’t preside over your admission ceremony? After all, the normal enrollment period is two months from now. As long as you’re in before the new academic year begins, it’s fine. You didn’t need to be in such a rush. You’re here now, but classes haven’t even started,"

the kind researcher explained, then added,

"Or maybe your inspiration is on the lower side? Perhaps that’s why you didn’t notice these ’special events’?"

As he spoke, he extended his hand toward Lloyd, gesturing for him to offer his own for a physical Attributes check.

Lloyd readily offered his hand.

The kind researcher took his wrist and released a bit of inspiration.

He wasn’t scalded by Lloyd’s [inspiration], but a look of faint surprise crossed his face as he asked,

"You seem to only be Tier Three, but how is your Spiritual Power this strong? It’s already above the academy average... Is it the effect of a Holy Artifact you’re wearing? Or are you, as I suspected, not human?"

Lloyd decided to just give up.

"Forget it... You won’t believe my explanation anyway. Just pick whichever answer you’d prefer to believe."

The researcher actually nodded and replied,

"In that case, I’ll go with you not being human. After all, a Holy Artifact capable of boosting a Tier Three’s Spiritual Power to your level would surely come with immense side effects and drain. But from what I can see, your physical structure and internal organs are perfectly healthy."

’This feels really strange. It’s like he knows he’s lying to himself, but he’s willing to believe it anyway...’

’Maybe I’ll have to get used to this school’s pervasive culture of self-deception. After all, the average person here has [Mild Madness]...’

’Is this Mizkakotok University or Mizikatok Mental Hospital?’

Lloyd grumbled internally, then heard the researcher continue,

"While your inspiration is a bit lower than the academy average, it’s more than sufficient."

"What about people with exceptionally low inspiration, then? If they can’t encounter those ’special events,’ does that mean they can’t enroll?"

Lloyd asked curiously.

"Generally speaking, people with extremely low inspiration don’t receive an Admission Notice... Even in exceptional cases, a guide would take the initiative to seek them out.

Alternatively, they could just wait patiently. As the enrollment season gets closer, the notice itself would change... In short, as long as you’ve received the notice, you’re guaranteed admission. You just might not get that important ’admission evaluation form’."

the researcher answered patiently.

Lloyd froze when he heard that. ’I don’t have an "admission evaluation form"...’

"This ’admission evaluation form’ you mentioned—is it important?"

he asked hurriedly.

"Yes. It affects which subjects you can choose and how much tuition you have to pay... For example, someone with an ’E-’ evaluation pays a lot more in tuition than someone with an ’A’ evaluation. The difference really stings..."

"Uh... So if I don’t have an ’admission evaluation form’..."

"You’ll probably be assessed at the lowest grade, ’E-’, I’d imagine?"

A chill ran down Lloyd’s spine.